The risk of an oil spill from the "Askö" was now estimated to be very small and the Coast Guard completed its environmental rescue operation at Hässelby. Coast Guard divers have examined the bottom of the ship. They have noted that there were holes in four tanks which were filled with water up to the water level. The fuel tanks were situated astern of the damaged region and remained afloat without touching the bottom, which meant that the risk of oil spills is expected to be small. Efforts to free the ship were to continue in the evening and on Dec 10. The Swedish Transport Agency and the owner of the ship have jointly developed a recovery plan based on the divers' survey.
Swedish reports with photo and video:
https://www.kustbevakning...www.dn.se/webb-tv...www.dn.se/sthlm/f...

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has begun fully mobilizing appropriate and relevant safety measures to secure maritime environmental safety in the wake of a salvage operation this week involving the "Antaios" on the Atlantic Ocean west of Cape Town.
On Dec 7 SAMSA reported the bulkcarrier which was laden with a cargo of soya flour and corn being shipped from San Lorenzo, Argentina to Yemen – as currently under tow by the salvage tug "Smit Amandla".
SAMSA said the safety measures being rolled out involved retrieving safely and transferring offshore the estimated 170 metric tonnes of bunker fuel in the vessels’ belly. Among other issues, this would entail ensuring the vessel remained at no less than 30 miles off the coast of Cape Town.
The South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) required the owner to prioritise the removal of the casualty’s bunkers to neutralise any environmental threat before giving permission for the vessel to proceed closer to the South African coast. Until such time as the fuel transfer operation has been completed, vessel surveys undertaken and a comprehensive salvage plan approved, SAMSA has ordered that casualty remain at least 30 miles off.
The tug "Peridot"having been mobilised from Cape Town, together with specialist personnel and equipment, will rendezvous with the convoy of tug and tow and commence preparations for the transfer of bunker fuel and water, which includes the pumping of the flooded engine room and repair of damage sustained.
The SAMSA was working closely with all interested parties including owners and their underwriters to ensure that safety of life and environmental protection remain the key priorities of this operation.
Report with photos:
https://blog.samsa.org.za/2016/12/08/samsa-moves-to-ensure-maritime-environmental-safety-around-stricken-greek-vessel-headed-for-cape-town/

nchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising of a 48 hour strike by the Seamen’s Union in Greece from 2-4 December.
The strike is due to affect all domestic and local ferry routes to and from Piraeus to the Greek Islands. Earlier, the Crew Union of the Tug boats also confirmed participation in the strike and operations will be affected at the ports of Piraeus, Aspropyrgos, Eleusis and Pachi/Megara.
During the strike period, vessels will not be able to berth, shift or sail from the affected ports. The action has again been called by the union in response to the Government’s planned changes to labour and insurance rights, pensions and retirement ages.
The strike will start at 06:00 local time on 2 December and is expected to finish at 06:00hrs on 4 December.
ISS Greece is working with its clients to minimise delays and will keep its clients updated.
Source: Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS)

Dredging in the port of Maputo, Mozambique, allows it to receive larger ships

The dredging of the access channel to the port of Maputo has allowed the port to receive a large ship, the MV Mineral Belgium, which is 289 metres long and 45 metres wide, according to a statement from the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC).
The statement said the ship, carrying 90,000 tonnes of ferro-chrome and chrome, left the port of Maputo on Thursday, which was only possible because of the deepening of the access channel from 11 metres to 14.2 metres at high tide.
Dredging of the Maputo port channel began in May this year and is scheduled for completion in January 2017. It is being carried out by Jan de Nul Dredging Middle East FZE, an international company that was awarded the project and is using three dredgers to complete it. www.hellenicshipp...